Coin-operated latch mechanism

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a coin-operated latch mechanism to be used in a coin-operated dispensing device including a cabinet body providing an opening with a closure member cooperatively to close the opening where the latch is urged to locked position by movement of the door member and is released when a selected coin combination is received by a cooperative coin receptacle associated with the dispensing device. The latch mechanism further includes a hook-like member to engage selectively and to lock in closed position where the hook-like member is biased, when unrestrained, to release the door; and a lever mechanism, actuated by movement of the door member to a selected position, to urge the hook-like member to engage and lock the door.

United States Patent Voegeli COIN-OPERATED LATCH MECHANISM Henry CarlVoegeli, 918 Gibbs Road, Venice, Fla. 33595 [22] Filed: June 5, 1974[21] Appl. No.: 476,423

[76] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Thomas E.Kocovsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harry B. ODonnell, Ill

[ 1 May 20, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT This invention provides a coin-operatedlatch mechanism to be used in a coin-operated dispensing deviceincluding a cabinet body providing an opening with a closure membercooperatively to close the opening where the latch is urged to lockedposition by movement of the door member and is released when a selectedcoin combination is received by a cooperative coin receptacle associatedwith the dispensing device. The latch mechanism further includes ahook-like member to engage selectively and to lock in closed positionwhere the hook-like member is biased, when unrestrained, to release thedoor; and a lever mechanism, actuated by movement of the door member toa selected position, to urge the hook-like member to engage and lock thedoor.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED MAY 2 0 7 SHEET 2 BF 3 v i t d i IPATENTED W 20 5 SHEET 3 BF 3 COIN-OPERATED LATCI-I MECHANISM BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a latch mechanism thatis particularly useful in connection with coinoperated vending machines.More particularly, the present invention relates to a latch mechanismfor a coin-operated vending machine for dispensing newpapers and otherperiodicals.

Previous vending machines, which may presently be in use, provide acabinet with a cooperative opening through which materials may bedispensed or withdrawn, wherein a door is provided to cover the opening.The door is locked in closed position until the preselected coincombination has been received by the dispensing device, as shown in US.Pat. Nos. 3,174,608 and 1,788,688.

Such previous vending machines have utilized various latch mechanisms toselectively lock and release the access opening door to the materialswhich are dispensed by the device.

In some cases, these old vending machines have utilized a coin-operatedlatch release mechanism that is located externally of the dispensingcabinet, whereby the coin-collecting receptacle is susceptible totampering which increases the likelihood of theft of coins andperiodicals from the vending machine.

The present invention is directed toward the provision of an improved,positive action, latch mechanism for use in connection withcoin-operated vending machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a latcharrangement which is particularly adapted for use with a vending machinethat includes a cabinet having an access opening therein to permitwithdrawal of the newspapers, pe riodicals, or like items containedtherein, where a door, which can be fastened to the cabinet by acooperative hinge is provided to cover the opening. The door ispreferably biased toward a position closing the access opening andadapted to return to that closed position, without manual assistance,following the withdrawal of the newspaper, periodical or the like fromthe cabinet through the access opening.

In one presently preferred form of the present invention, the door isretained by hinge means disposed on one side of the access opening tothe cabinet, and the latch mechanism is disposed in'the cabinet at oneside of the access opening. The latch mechanism which, in its presentlypreferred form, includes a hook-carrying member, is yieldably biased toa position releasing the door and allowing the door to open, and furtherinclude means to cause the hook member to engage the door when the dooris moved to a selected position, for example when the door is closed.

One particular feature in accordance with the present invention includesa coin-operated release mechanism provided to disengage thehook-carrying member of the latch mechanism from the door when apreselected value in coins has been inserted in a coin receptacle of thevending machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the one example of a dispensing devicecabinet illustrating the position of periodicals therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of a portion of thecabinet of FIG. 1 incorporating a presently preferred form of theimproved mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lin 33 of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3showing one example of a portion of a mechanism in accordance with thepresent invention with the cabinet door in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3showing the door of the cabinet in a partially open position; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a vendingdevice incorporating one example of a latch mechanism provided inaccordance with the present invention. The vending device showncomprises generally rectangular cabinet 1 having an opening 2 forwithdrawal of periodicals, for example, newspapers 3, held by thevending device. A door 4 is provided to be received by opening 2 toselectively close opening 2 to prevent unauthorized withdrawal ofperiodicals 3 from the cabinet 1.

Door 4 can include a transparent window 6 to facilitate display ofperiodicals held within cabinet 1. Advantageously a tray 7 can beprovided immediately behind and generally parallel to transparent Window6, so

that periodicals to be dispensed can be displayed in full front viewthrough window 6. In accordance with one feature of the presentinvention, door 4 includes latch means, for example, cooperative latchreceptacles 8, having apertures 8a therein, disposed in spaced relationalong the upper edge of door 4, as shown. A handle 9 can be provided tofacilitate opening door 4 when a selected coin combination has beeninserted into the device, as described hereinafter. A coin receivingslot 11 is provided in a front panel 12 of cabinet 1 to receive coins toactuate the release of door 4 as hereinafter described. Advantageouslyfront. panel 12 can be removably secured to cabinet 1 by means of a lock13, as hereinafter described, for removal of coins from the device.Likewise a coin return slot 14 can be provided in panel 12 operatable bya coin. return button 16.

Referring now to FIG. 2, which shows a portion of one example of a latchmechanism provided in accordance with the present invention, door 1 isshown in open position, and is pivotally secured to cabinet 1 by meansof a hinge 17 carried by door 4. I-Iinge 17 can be attached to cabinet 1by means of a flange 18 provided on hinge 17 which can, for example, bespot welded to the base of cabinet ll. Door 4, which is shown inpartially open position in FIG. 2, includes latch receptacles 8 providedwith apertures 8a located in spaced relation along the side of door 4opposite hinge 17 to receive hook means as described below. Cooperativeapertures 19 are provided in cabinet 1 in spaced relation adjacent tothe edge of opening 2 as shown, to receive latch receptacles 8 so latchreceptacles 8 extend through apertures 19 when door 4 is closed.

In accordance with one feature of the example of the present inventionshown in FIG. 2, a shaft 21 can be pivotably disposed within cabinet 1and can be journaled in bearings 22 located at opposite sides of opening2 so shaft 21 is located on the side of opening 2, opposite hinge 17 andin generally parallel relation to hinge 17.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, latch meansare provided to selectively hold door 4 in closed position. In theexample of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, the latch meansincludes hooks 23 which can be carried in spaced relation on shaft 21to, advantageously, engage apertures 8a of latch receptacles 8 when door4 is closed.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, bias means,can be provided to urge hooks 23 out of engagement with receptacles 8.In the example of the present invention shown in the figures a coilspring 25 can be provided, and attached at one end of shaft 21 and atthe other end bearing 22, and biased to rotate shaft 21 to disengagehooks 23 from apertures 8a of latch receptacles 8, except when rotationof shaft 21 is restrained as hereinafter described.

A laterally extending arm 21a can be provided at one end of shaft 21 tofacilitate rotation of arm 21. Within the scope of the present inventionmeans can be provided for door 4 to be urged toward a closed positionwith respect to opening 2 of cabinet 1. In the example shown in thedrawings, the means urging door 4 toward the closed position includes aspring biased multiple arm arrangement as hereinafter described. Moreparticularly the example shown includes a first arm 26 pivotablyconnected to cabinet 1 by pin means 27, and a second arm 28 pivotablyconnected to arm 26 by means of a pivot pin 29. Arm 28 includes alateral offset segment 31 to crossover arm 26, as shown, so that arm 28is restrained to one side of arm 26 and so that when offset 31 contactsarm 26, arms 26 and 28 move together. A connecting link 32 is providedwith one end connected to arm 26 by means of a pivot pin 33. Connectinglink 32 extends through aperture 35 of cabinet 1 and is connected at theother end to frame 4a of door 4 by means of a pin 34.

An inturned tab 36 is provided at the free end of arm 28 and has anaperture 36a to receive one end of a tension spring 37. The other end ofspring 37 can be connected to cabinet 1 by means of a cooperative pin37a, as shown. A second tension spring 38 can, advantageously, beprovided and connected at one end of aperture 26a provided in arm 26 andspring 38 can be connected at the other end to cabinet 1 by means of apin 38a. Springs 37 and 38 are, advantageously, adapted and selected tobe maintained at selected tension when door 4 is in open position tourge arms 26 and 28 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, sothat door 4 is continually urged toward the closed position.Advantageously, the tension force of springs 37 and 38 can be sufficientto close door 4 without the intervention of outside assistance.

Advantageously, as also hereinafter described, hooks 23 and apertures 8aare selected to allow some movement of door 4 when in closed position.

As previously described, spring 25 is provided on shaft 21 to rotateshaft 21 when shaft 21 is unrestrained, so hooks 23 are released fromapertures 8a of latch receptacles 8. In order to reset the hooks 23 inthe apertures 8a and the retain door 4 in closed position, a reset levermechanism, in accordance with one feature of the present invention, isprovided as hereinafter described.

In the example of the present invention shown in the figures, a bowedreset lever 41 is provided to one side of door 4 and provides acooperative inturned striking surface 42 to contact arm 21a of shaft 21,and selectively rotate shaft 21 as hereinafter described. Arm 41 iscarried by and pivots about, a pin 44 which extends through bearings 40provided on lever 41. Pin 44 is journaled in opposite ends of a U shapedbracket 43. Bracket 43 is fastened, for example by spot welding, to ahousing 46, see FIGS. 2-5. Housing 46 is fastened to front panel 12 ofcabinet 1 so that the entire lever assembly can be removed with panel12.

The end of lever 41 opposite striking surface 42 can, advantageously, beprovided with bearings (only one is visible in FIG. 2) on opposite sidesof the lever, and a laterally extending lever 47 can be provided to bereceived between bearings 49 of lever 41. Lever 47 can be pivotablyconnected to lever 41 by means of a pin 48 extending through bearings 51of lever 47 and journaled in bearings 49 of lever 41. Lever 47 canadvantageously be L shaped and in the examples of the present inventionshown in the figures, includes a laterally extending base 45 whichadvantageously abuts one side of lever 41 as lever 47 is pivoted aboutpin 48. A tension spring 61 is provided to retain base 45 of lever 47against lever 41, except when base 45 of lever 47 is urged out ofengagement with lever 41 as hereinafter described.

Lever 47 is also provided with an upturned detent 52, as shown in FIG.2.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 a tension spring 62 is also provided to urgelever 41 in a clockwise direction as hereinafter described. One end ofspring 62 is connected to lever 41 as shown and the other end isconnected to bracket 43 so lever 41 is, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5urged in a clockwise direction and striking surface 42 of lever 41 isnormally urged out of engagement with arm 21a of shaft 21 to free hooks23 from apertures 8a of latch receptacles 8. A cooperative stop 58a(FIG. 4) is provided to abut lever 47 and prevent movement except ashereinafter described.

Referring again to FIG. 2, one example of a reset mechanism within thescope of the present invention is shown to reset hooks 23 in apertures8a when door 4 is moved to the closed position with respect to opening2. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 2 and 5, a trigger 5 is providedon door frame 40 and extends through a cooperative aperture 10 providedin cabinet 1 when door 4 is in closed position. A lever 58, pivotablycarried by a shaft 56 in bearings 54 is provided and disposed to becontacted by trigger 5. Lever 58 can be attached to shaft 56, forexample by set screws (not shown) whereby lever 58 can be adjustablypositioned on shaft 56. A lever 56a is provided at the end of shaft 56.Lever 56a is rotated by movement of lever 58, as trigger 5 contacts androtates lever 58 so that lever 56a contacts and moves lever 41 againstthe tension provided by spring 62, to reset hooks 23 in apertures 8a asdoor 4 is closed, as more particularly described hereinafter.

As previously stated, the device in accordance with the presentinvention is adapted to provide for release of door 4 when a preselectedcoin combination is received. In this regard a coin-operated mechanism65 (shown by dotted lines in FIGS. 4-6); for example as shown in U.S.Pat. No. 3,760,923 can be provided to receive coins from coin receivingslot 11, previously described. Referring to H08. 4 and 5, advantageouslycoin-operated mechanism 65 emits a selected coin 66 from the bottom ofthe mechanism and provides a lock mechanism (not shown) to preventvertical movement of coin 66, whereby coin 66 is held in contact withdetent 52 of lever 47. Advantageously, as previously discussed, stop 58ais provided to abut the free end of lever 47 to restrict movement oflevers 47 and 41, and release of hooks 23. However, a selected small gap47a is provided between the end of lever 47 and stop 58a, when levers 41and 47 are in the position illustrated in FIG. 4.

In operation with door 4 in closed position, as shown in FIG. 4, when acoin 66 of selected value is dropped in slot 11 (FIG. 2) and passesthrough coin-operated mechanism 65, the coin 66 is positioned as shownin FIG. 4 and is held in position against detent 52 by coin mechanism65. When door 4 is first moved toward the open position trigger 5 iswithdrawn to free lever 58 and arm 56a from contact with lever 41, solever 41 and 47 are rotated by the force exerted by spring 62.

As lever 47 moves through gap 47a in a clockwise direction, detent 52engages coin 66 and moves lever 47 downwardly and out of engagement withstop 58a so lever 41 is then free to move and fully release arm 21a fromstriking surface 42, as best shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly hook member 23are released from apertures 8a by the force exerted by spring 25 aspreviously described, permitting door 4 to be fully opened to allowaccess to cabinet ll.

Coin 66, as shown in FIG. 5, is then released to drop into a coinreceptacle.

When door 4 is released, it is drawn to closed position by levers 26 and28 and springs 37 and 38, as previously described.

As door 4 is closed, trigger 5 projects through aperture to contactlever 58 and rotate shaft 56 so lever 56a contacts lever 41, and resetslever 41 in the locked position. Striking surface 42 contacts lever 21a,and rotates shaft 21 to reset hooks 23 in apertures 8a, thus lockingdoor 4 in closed position.

After coin 66 is released, and lever 41 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, lever 47 is returned by spring 61 to the positionillustrated in FIG. 4.

A bent coin can be diverted into the coin-return shoot 59 by manuallypushing the coin-return button 16 into contact with the lever 47.However, should one attempt, at the same time to open the door 4, thelatch reset trigger 5 will immediately operate reset lever 58 tore-engage lever 47 in its door locking position.

It will be understood that the foregoing is but one example of anarrangement within the scope of the present invention, that variousother arrangements within the scope of the present invention will becomeobvious to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure setforth hereinbefore. and that the scope of the present invention islimited only by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A latch mechanism for use in a coin-operated dispensing deviceincluding a cabinet having a cooperative opening to provide access tosaid cabinet, closure means selectively to close said opening, and acoinoperated mechanism actuated upon receipt of at least one coin ofselected value, comprising:

a. latch means adapted selectively to engage said closure means whensaid closure means is in a first selected position relative to saidopening of said cabi net;

b. bias means normally to urge said latch means out of engagement withsaid closure means;

0. first linkage means to be disposed in a first linkage position to setsaid latch means in engagement with said closure means and to bedisposed in a second linkage position, such that said bias meansreleases said latch means from engagement with said closure means;

d. release means actuated. by said coin-operated mechanism to actuatesaid] first linkage means from said first linkage position to saidsecond linkage position, when at least one coin of selected value isreceived by said coin-operated mechanism; and

e. reset linkage means connected to said closure means to be actuated bymovement of said closure means, and adapted selectively to engage saidfirst linkage means to move said first linkage means from said secondlinkage position and into said first linkage position when said closuremeans is moved to said first selected position relative to said cabinet.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said latch means engages saidclosure means when said closure means is located in a position closingsaid opening in said cabinet.

3. The invention of claim 2, further including spring means urging saidclosure means toward a position closing said opening in said cabinet.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein said closure means includes doormeans pivotably joined to said cabinet means adjacent to a first edge ofsaid opening provided in said cabinet.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said latch means includes:

a. shaft means rotatably disposed adjacent a second edge of saidopening; and

b. hook means carried by said shaft means and rotatable with said shaftmeans from a first hook position, engaging and holding said door means,to a second hook position, wherein said hook means releases said doormeans.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said bias means includes springmeans to urge said shaft means from said first hook position to saidsecond hook position.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein:

a. said shaft means includes shaft arm means extending laterally fromsaid shaft means;

b. said first linkage means inludes at least first lever means to engagesaid shaft arm means and wherein said first lever means is pivotablymounted to move said shaft arm means from a first arm position, whereinsaid hook means is located in said first hook position, to a second armposition, wherein said hook means is located in said second hookposition;

c. said first lever means includes first lever spring means to actuatesaid first lever means to move said shaft arm means toward said secondarm position; and

d. said first lever means is actuated by said reset linkage means tomove said shaft arm means to said first arm position.

8. The invention of claim 7, further including:

a. stop means disposed within said cabinet;

b. second lever means pivotably carried by said first lever means anddisposed to be pivoted from a first position, to engage said stop meansto restrict pivotal movement of said first lever means, to a secondposition, out of engagement with said stop means; and

c. wherein said second lever means is disposed to be actuated by saidcoin-operated mechanism to be pivoted from said first stop meansengaging position and into said second stop means disengaging position,releasing said first lever means to be actuated by said first leverspring means to move said shaft arm means from said first arm positionto said second arm position.

9. The invention of claim 8, wherein said reset linkage meansinclude:

a. trigger means carried by said door means;

b. first reset shaft means rotatably disposed within said cabinet;

c. first reset lever means fixed to said reset shaft means and disposedto be engaged and moved by said trigger means and rotate said shaftmeans as said door means is closed to cover said opening in saidcabinet; and

d. second reset lever means fixed to said reset shaft means and disposedto engage said first lever means and move said first lever and saidshaft arm means from said first arm position to said second armposition, as said first reset lever is moved by said trigger means.

1. A latch mechanism for use in a coin-operated dispensing deviceincluding a cabinet having a cooperative opening to provide access tosaid cabinet, closure means selectively to close said opening, and acoin-operated mechanism actuated upon receipt of at least one coin ofselected value, comprising: a. latch means adapted selectively to engagesaid closure means when said closure means is in a first selectedposition relative to said opening of said cabinet; b. bias meansnormally to urge said latch means out of engagement with said closuremeans; c. first linkage means to be disposed in a first linkage positionto set said latch means in engagement with said closure means and to bedisposed in a second linkage position, such that said bias meansreleases said latch means from engagement with said closure means; d.release means actuated by said coin-operated mechanism to actuate saidfirst linkage means from said first linkage position to said secondlinkage position, when at least one coin of selected value is receivedby said coin-operated mechanism; and e. reset linkage means connected tosaid closure means to be actuated by movement of said closure means, andadapted selectively to engage said first linkage means to move saidfirst linkage means from said second linkage position and into saidfirst linkage position when said closure means is moved to said firstselected position relative to said cabinet.
 2. The invention of claim 1,wherein said latch means engages said closure means when said closuremeans is located in a position closing said opening in said cabinet. 3.The invention of claim 2, further including spring means urging saidclosure means toward a position closing said opening in said cabinet. 4.The invention of claim 1, wherein said closure means includes door meanspivotably joined to said cabinet means adjacent to a first edge of saidopening provided in said cabinet.
 5. The invention of claim 4, whereinsaid latch means includes: a. shaft means rotatably disposed adjacent asecond edge of said opening; and b. hook means carried by said shaftmeans and rotatable with said shaft means from a first hook position,engaging and holding said door means, to a second hook position, whereinsaid hook means releases said door means.
 6. The invention of claim 5,wherein said bias Means includes spring means to urge said shaft meansfrom said first hook position to said second hook position.
 7. Theinvention of claim 6, wherein: a. said shaft means includes shaft armmeans extending laterally from said shaft means; b. said first linkagemeans inludes at least first lever means to engage said shaft arm meansand wherein said first lever means is pivotably mounted to move saidshaft arm means from a first arm position, wherein said hook means islocated in said first hook position, to a second arm position, whereinsaid hook means is located in said second hook position; c. said firstlever means includes first lever spring means to actuate said firstlever means to move said shaft arm means toward said second armposition; and d. said first lever means is actuated by said resetlinkage means to move said shaft arm means to said first arm position.8. The invention of claim 7, further including: a. stop means disposedwithin said cabinet; b. second lever means pivotably carried by saidfirst lever means and disposed to be pivoted from a first position, toengage said stop means to restrict pivotal movement of said first levermeans, to a second position, out of engagement with said stop means; andc. wherein said second lever means is disposed to be actuated by saidcoin-operated mechanism to be pivoted from said first stop meansengaging position and into said second stop means disengaging position,releasing said first lever means to be actuated by said first leverspring means to move said shaft arm means from said first arm positionto said second arm position.
 9. The invention of claim 8, wherein saidreset linkage means include: a. trigger means carried by said doormeans; b. first reset shaft means rotatably disposed within saidcabinet; c. first reset lever means fixed to said reset shaft means anddisposed to be engaged and moved by said trigger means and rotate saidshaft means as said door means is closed to cover said opening in saidcabinet; and d. second reset lever means fixed to said reset shaft meansand disposed to engage said first lever means and move said first leverand said shaft arm means from said first arm position to said second armposition, as said first reset lever is moved by said trigger means.